ACTUATOR

摘要

An actuator capable of preventing occurrence of insulation breakdown while achieving an appropriate operation performance of a dielectric elastomer is provided. Electrode films 3 to be bonded to a dielectric elastomer 2 are formed such that a characteristic of a change in thickness d of the elastomer 2 with an increase in an applied voltage V of the elastomer 2 shows a first voltage range Δ1 in which a decline rate of d to the increase in V is high and a second voltage range Δ2, including a voltage higher than the first voltage range Δ1, in which the decline rate of d to the increase in V is low, and a voltage value Vmax at which the insulation breakdown of the elastomer 2 occurs falls within the second voltage range Δ2.

主权项

1. An actuator comprising:
a dielectric elastomer in a form of a film; and electrode films bonded respectively to both surfaces of the dielectric elastomer in a thickness direction thereof, wherein a thickness of the dielectric elastomer is changed with a change in voltage applied to the dielectric elastomer through the electrode films, and the electrode films are formed to satisfy
a first condition where a characteristic of a change in thickness of the dielectric elastomer with an increase in elastomer applied voltage, which is the voltage applied to the dielectric elastomer, shows
a first voltage range in which a decline rate of the thickness of the dielectric elastomer to the increase in elastomer applied voltage is relatively high anda second voltage range, including a voltage higher than the first voltage range, in which the decline rate of the thickness of the dielectric elastomer to the increase in elastomer applied voltage is relatively lower than that of the first voltage range, anda second condition where an elastomer applied voltage value at which insulation breakdown of the dielectric elastomer occurs falls within the second voltage range.